Impuissants (en. Powerless)

/ɛ̃.py.i.sɑ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

adjective

Devoid of power or capacity.

They felt powerless in the face of the situation.

Ils se sont sentis impuissants face à la situation.

Incapable of acting or making decisions.

The employees were powerless against the management's decisions.

Les employés étaient impuissants devant les décisions de la direction.

Without strength or effectiveness.

Their protest proved ineffective.

Leur protestation s'est révélée impuissante.

From the Latin 'impuissans', derived from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'power'.

to feel powerless

To experience a feeling of inability to act.

se sentir impuissant

sense of powerlessness

Emotion resulting from the inability to change a situation.

sentiment d'impuissance

powerless in the face of

Not having the means to resist or act against something.

impuissant face à

power

Ability to act, influence, or control.

pouvoir

strength

Physical or moral energy enabling action.

force

influence

Ability to affect the behavior or development of others.

influence

To have one's hands tied

In this situation, I feel as if I have my hands tied.

Dans cette situation, je me sens comme si j'avais les mains liées.

To be at an impasse

We are at an impasse and feel powerless.

Nous sommes dans une impasse et nous nous sentons impuissants.